Question

Which identifies the conflict that arose over rubber production in the Belgian Congo? a. Demand for rubber and Belgian debts led to the forced labor and violation of the human rights of the Congolese. b. The establishment of a company town by the Belgian Stock Company led to a riot by the unionized workers of the Congo. c. Creation of a Belgium Free State for the purposes of farming rubber trees caused the Congolese palm oil business to deteriorate. d. The desire of the Congolese to maintain control of their rubber production led to an international war between Belgium and the Congo.

Answer 1

a. Demand for rubber and Belgian debts led to the forced labor and violation of the human rights of the Congolese.

Step-by-step explanation:

The exploitation of Congo by Belgium is considered one of the most brutal and exploitative colonial regimes in modern history. During this period, Belgium exploited the Native Congolese people forcing them to work as porters, miners, rubber-tappers, woodcutters and railway builders.

The main product of the exploitation was the harvesting of rubber, that had high demand in Europe. Native Congolese were forced to work and even a colonial army was created, called force publique.

To maintain production a certain quota of rubber was demanded from each village. If the village missed the quota, it would be punished, people had their hands and feet amputated as a punishment for not collecting enough rubber.